Campaigning North East MP Kevan Jones has won the support of more than 80 MPs in his bid to try to ensure that shop workers are allowed Christmas Day off.

The Durham North Labour backbencher is to introduce a Private Members' Bill banning larger shops from staying open on December 25.

And now 83 of his colleagues are supporting the campaign sparked by shop workers' union USDAW. This week Mr Jones presented a massive petition to 10 Downing Street, hoping to get Tony Blair's support for the move.

If the Government decides not to block the move, Mr Jones is far enough up the Private Members' Ballot of the Commons to get his proposal into law.

Eighty-two fellow Labour MPs signed a special Commons Motion on the issue.

Placed on the Order Paper, Parliament's daily agenda sent to all ministers, MPs and senior civil servants, just before Westminster broke up for the holidays, it urges action.

The motion reads: "We cherish Christmas Day as a special day, particularly for families and children, and welcome the campaign by USDAW, the shop workers' union on behalf of 2.6m shop workers of the United Kingdom."